Posted on by malbo35 · 2 Comments

Takasakiyama Monkey Park; The Battle for Troop Leader

Takasakiyama Money Park is one of the best places in Japan to see the hierarchy of Japanese macaque society in action. It is located in Beppu, Japan is a Japanese Macaque reserve home to 1500 monkeys divided into 2 troops B, and C.( A was dissolved after being defeated by troop C). While it is called a zoological park, the monkeys are indeed wild animals and can and go as they please. After the end of WWII, the Japanese masques population increased greatly in the Takasakiyama area and were wreaking havoc on farms. Ignoring calls for culling, the mayor of Beppu at the time decided to feed them which would lure them away from farm and double as a tourist attraction.

Posted on by malbo35

Japanese Macaques in Kamba Falls

Today, I will talk about Kamba Falls and its resident monkey population in Maniwa city, Okayama. There are a few places in Japan famous for Japanese Macaques but I chose Kamba falls because it is less intrusive and more sustainable than other spots. It is also not well known to foreign tourists yet so it is not overcrowded like Arashiyama (famous for its bamboo forest and troop of monkeys)or Joshinetsu-Kogen National Park(this a park where monkeys bath in hot springs). There are about 160 monkeys in Kamba falls that can be often seen hanging around the walkway to the waterfall. They come down from the mountains in search of food. The monkeys are not stressed or aggressive as the park is not usually overcrowded and visitors are forbidden to feed them